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Difference between Marvel and DC Comics

Key Difference: Marvel and DC are two of the biggest publications of comic books. DC Comics and its characters are often known for being dark, serious, and brooding; the most famous example of this is the Batman. While, Marvel is known to be less serious, lighter and focuses more on entertainment. Eg. Deadpool.

Marvel and DC are two of the biggest publications of comic books. Their comics are so popular that they have spawned a multimedia universe. The phenomenon started from humble comic books, but have now gone on to include TV shows, movies, novels, websites, and merchandise, so much merchandise.

Each of the two comics and their respective universes have their own die-hard fans, who will literally die claiming that their preferred universe or comic or superhero is better than the rest. There are also people who are fans of the original comics, the animated shows, the live action shows, or the movies. The DC Cinematic Universe and the Marvel Cinematic Universe is currently at a full headed war with their new film adaptations directly competing at box offices.

People passionately continue to justify why they like one over the other, however, it should be noted that both Marvel and DC are known for certain characteristics that draw fans to them. DC Comics and its characters are often known for being dark, serious, and brooding; the most famous example of this is the Batman. While, Marvel is known to be less serious, lighter and focuses more on entertainment. Eg. Deadpool. Of course, this is not a rule, and there are exceptions to it.

Still, proponents of DC claim it is exact this realism, the anguishes that the character goes through that draws them towards DC. Still, if one looks at comics, Marvel is not all that easy and simple. The comics have been known to address social and political aspects such as LGBT Rights, using mutant rights as allegory; civil rights and liberties, via the Sokovia Accords; and even the matter of free will vs destiny through its comics. However, DC has not shied away from such philosophies either. It has also focused on addressing concepts such as free will vs destiny (the entirety storyline of Lucifer is dedicated to this), responsibility of having power and the corruption that comes with it (Lex Luthor as President), immigration (Superman being an illegal immigrant), human rights (Cadmus conducting illegal experimentation on unwilling people), genocide (the mass murder of the Green Martians), power of the government (Sucide Squad), etc. These are just some examples.

At the end of the day, it really is a matter of personal preference whether one like Marvel or DC more. However, one can always choose to not pick sides and appreciate both for their characters and their original styles of storytelling. Why stick to one, when a person can enjoy the best of both worlds.

In 1996, DC and Marvel jointly collaborated to publish a comic book limited series crossover titles DC vs. Marvel Comics. The comics featured heroes from both universes that fought against each other for their right to exist. The story is about two brothers who personify the DC and Marvel Universes. The come to know about each other's existence, and challenge each other to a series of the duels. The loser’s universe would cease to exist. There were a total of 11 duels in which DC and Marvel characters fought with each other. The interesting part is that in a number of these duels the winners were decided by the reader’s votes. In anyone is interested, Marvel closely won.

However, as these are comic books, and they certainly couldn’t just wipe DC universe of the map, things got weirder from there. A new entity merged both the universes together, which resulted in their respective characters merging together. For example: Batman and Wolverine merged together into Dark Claw, while Superman and Captain America merged together into Super-Soldier. This eventually resulted in the publication of the twelve-issue Amalgam universe, at the end of which the two godly brothers realize that they feud is pointless and come to peace, and the universes are separated once again to continue as they had, and be pitted only in their fans’ imaginations.